Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 88263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“This is a pretty big fire, mother.”
She pulls away, looking thoughtful. “Do you know what your father did when he decided he wanted to marry me?”
“No, and I don’t think I want to know.”
“He threw me over his shoulder, slapped my ass, and dragged me off to the courthouse.” She gives me a dreamy smile and takes a long drink. “It was very romantic.”
“I didn’t need that image,” I mutter, shaking my head. But I smile back despite myself. “Maybe that’s what I should do with Keely. Although we’re already married.”
“Maybe,” Mom echoes. “Whatever you do, make sure you do it right. Make sure that girl knows how you feel.” She hugs me quickly. “Good luck.”
Then she leaves. With my bottle.
Chapter 37
Keely
I hole up at Jamila’s apartment feeling like my entire life’s over.
“They’re going to come for me,” I say, feeling miserable. I’m on Jamila’s couch the next morning, drinking coffee, staring at her TV, doing exactly what I did the day before. “Sooner or later, that door’s gonna get kicked down, and like a dozen Crowley thugs are going to drag me off so Nolan can keep me chained up in his basement.”
That’s dramatic, but it’s where I’m at right now.
Moping, basically.
“It can’t be that bad,” she says, sitting cross-legged. “Nolan wouldn’t do something crazy like, I don’t know, abduct you or something, right?”
She does not sound certain.
I groan, putting my coffee mug down, and leaning my face into my hands. “That’s exactly something he’d do.”
“Come on, even a Crowley isn’t above the law. I know they have political connections and all that, but…” She trails off, looking uncomfortable.
Because she knows the truth.
“If there’s anyone that truly is above the law, it’s Nolan and his brothers.” I lean back, eyes squeezed shut. “I don’t know what to do. I’m not really excited to give birth in Nolan’s murder dungeon.”
“He doesn’t actually have a murder dungeon, right?”
I give her a look. “Not that I know about.”
She seems a little uncomfortable and changes the subject. “Do you want him to be a part of your baby’s life?” she asks. “Assuming he doesn’t kidnap you.”
“That’s the question. If I really had an answer, this would be easy, right? I’d either be on the run right now, or I’d be back at Nolan’s place.”
“Why are you so conflicted?” Jamila asks, sounding genuinely unsure. “I mean, I thought you had made up your mind already. You can’t actually want to have anything to do with those people?”
I lean forward again, shaking my head. “It’s not that simple. Before this happened, Nolan was talking about buying a house in the suburbs, about making a family—”
“Seriously?” Jamila looks appalled. “That’s horrifying. Imagine waking up to find that monster in your kitchen making toast.”
She makes it sound horrible, but I’d kind of love that. Shirtless Nolan, buttering some bread, looking at me like he’s about to butter me up next.
“The crazy thing is he really meant it,” I say, trying to get her to understand. “He wasn’t talking about all that stuff for him. It was all for me and our imaginary babies. He even said at one point that our kids wouldn’t have to join the family organization, not in any illicit role at least. He was genuinely trying.”
Jamila scoffs. “I find that hard to believe.”
“He seemed so sincere. I don’t know what to think.” I rub my face, groaning. Jamila’s probably too biased to give me good advice here, but I have nobody else.
Before I can say more, there’s a knock at the door. Jamila looks over, frowns at me, then gets to her feet. She pads over and stares into the peephole before opening up.
Part of me expects a team of black-suited thugs to come piling in here, guns ready.
Ash stands on the threshold. She’s alone, looking a little awkward as she glances toward me then back to Jamila.
“I was wondering when you were gonna show up,” Jamila says. She doesn’t sound happy.
“I’m not here as a representative of the Crowley family, Jams, I swear.” Ash holds up her hands. “I come in peace.”
“Let her in,” I call out.
Jamila steps aside and closes the door behind her. Ash sits beside me on the couch, looking concerned, and I lean in to hug her tightly. I breathe deep, keeping the tears at bay. “You know,” I say stupidly. The relief in my stomach is painful. Like I want to puke, I’m so happy.
“Yeah, I know.” Her voice is gentle. “I’m so sorry, Keels.”
“It’s okay. I mean, it’s not, but you know, people say that anyway.”
Ash hugs me tighter. “I do know.”
Jamila busies herself in the kitchen making coffee for Ash while I sit back and get myself together. Once we’re all seated, Ash takes a deep breath, looking supremely worried. “Everyone’s talking about it,” she says, glancing at my belly. “Everyone in the inner circle, anyway. Carson, Nolan, their mother. Even Finn’s been getting in on the action. Liam’s nowhere to be seen, obviously, but still. They are profoundly shaken by the idea that a woman wouldn’t be dying to join the Crowley family.” She rolls her eyes at that last bit.